DUBAI: Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam, batsman Shan Masood and pacer Mohammad Abbas climbed the latest ICC Test rankings after strong performances in the opening Test against West Indies despite the visitors’ 90-run defeat.
In the ICC Test batting rankings, Babar has risen four places from 19th to 15th with 686 rating points, while Masood has risen eight places from 44th to 36th with 590 points after his century in the first Test.
However, several other Pakistani batters slipped down the rankings. Saud Shakeel dropped three places from 21st to 24th with 641 points, while wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan dropped eight places to 26th with 638 points.
All-rounder Salman Ali Agha also dropped four places to 32nd with 607 points. Left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq retained his 53rd position, while Abdullah Shafique dropped one place to 57th with 511 points. All-rounder Aamer Jamal also remained at 100th position.
Australia’s Travis Head continues to top the ICC Test batting rankings, followed by England’s Harry Brook in second place and teammate Joe Root in third.
In the ICC Test bowling rankings, right-arm pacer Abbas made the biggest gain among Pakistani players, moving up nine places from 26th to 17th with 690 rating points. Spinner Noman Ali retained his seventh position with 809 points.
Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi dropped four places to 29th with 617 points, while spinner Sajid Khan dropped one place to 35th with 545 points. Fast bowler Hasan Ali retained the 38th position with 501 points.
Pacer Khurram Shahzad fell one place to 52nd, Aamer Jamal remained 81st, spinner Asif Afridi dropped three places to 87th, fast bowler Mohammad Ali dropped to 93rd, while Salman Ali Agha dropped four places to 99th.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah remains the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, followed by New Zealand’s Matt Henry in second place and Australia’s Mitchell Starc in third.
